Hadwin’s 59 caps off a glorious week
Hudson Swafford won the fittingly named CareerBuilder Challenge on Sunday for his first PGA Tour title, following three straight birdies with a closing par for a one-stroke victory.
Swafford shot a 5-under 67 on the Stadium Course at PGA West to finish the three-course pro-am event with a 20-under 268. Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., came back with a 70 after his third-round 59 to finish second.
Brian Harman and Bud Cauley each shot 69 to tie for third at 18 under.
But people were still buzzing about what Hadwin accomplished Saturday in the third round. He shot a 13-under 59 for the ninth sub-60 round in PGA Tour history and the second in 10 days.
Justin Thomas had an 11-under 59 last week in Hawaii in the first round of his Sony Open victory. Hadwin matched David Duval’s tournament record, a 13-under 59 on the Arnold Palmer Private Course in the final round of his 1999 victory. Jim Furyk shot a tourrecord 12-under 58 last year in the Travelers Championship.
On Saturday, Hadwin took the lead at 17-under 199 after starting the day in danger of missing the cut at 4 under. He played the first two days at PGA West, shooting 71 on the Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course and 69 on the Stadium Course.
“I think everybody talks about kind of they were in a zone, and I think that’s kind of what happened,” the 29-year-old said Saturday. “I was thinking about it. I knew exactly where I was. I knew exactly what I needed to do. It just didn’t seem to matter.”
Hadwin made a six-foot birdie putt on the par-4 17th and got up and down for par — making a threefooter — from just off the green on the par-4 18th.
“Last thing I wanted to do was miss a three-footer for 59,” Hadwin said. “So, I was more relieved than anything walking off that green.”
Hadwin is the first Canadian — he was born in Moose Jaw, Sask., and grew up in Abbotsford — to break 60 on the tour. He’s also the first player to accomplish the feat on a par-72 course since Duval, and the only non-winner to do it.